LinkedIn Video is Here. So Now What?

August 29, 2017 / in LinkedIn / by Mic Johnson

Author: Mic Johnson, talking about LinkedIn’s new video option.

In case you haven’t heard or noticed, LinkedIn recently rolled out the ability to record videos as status updates on your LinkedIn profile. They originally gave the option to a few users and then expanded it to their entire user base.

My First LinkedIn Video

I tried it out because I train companies on LinkedIn. I also wanted to see how user friendly it was was curious on what kind of response I would receive.

Click the image below or this link to check out my first LinkedIn video. As of this writing, it’s received 701 views, which is pretty solid for a piece of content that only took a couple of minutes to create.

Now What? A Few Thoughts on LinkedIn Video.

1. It didn’t work the first time I tried it.
   When LinkedIn first rolled this out and I noticed it was available on the app on my iPhone, I it didn’t work. I sent a couple of tweets to @LinkedinHelp. They suggested I delete the LinkedIn app and then reinstall it. Not exactly the best experience when wanting to try a new feature, but it eventually worked just fine.
2. Recording yourself feels weird at first.
   I’ll be honest. It’s a bit of a weird feeling at first sitting and talking to a screen. I’ve noticed myself even looking away from the camera as I think about what I’m going to say next. It will undoubtedly feel more natural the more I do it.
3. Should people use it?
   Yes. The thing about video is it HUMANIZES the experience for people who are watching it. Being able to hear a person’s voice, see their facial expression, look them in the eyes, etc. engages a person in your content in a way that you don’t always get from reading their content. Think about it. If you watched my video above, how was that experience compared to the words you’re reading right now? Both have value without a doubt. But there’s a lot of power in SEEING and HEARING a person, and FEELING their passion, emotion and authenticity through video. I’m always preaching about being human, real and authentic in your personal and professional branding. Video makes it that much easier.
4. Will people use it?
   Time will tell. What I do know is this: We’ve been blogging for the last 8+ years and have long thought using video to create content for business would become more mainstream. We even did four videos for our website a few years ago (Check out the video we did on content marketing here.) But the reality (at least in what we’ve seen in the Kansas City area) is that there are still plenty of companies who still don’t even blog. For any B2B company in 2017, that’s still hard to believe. That (and the innate self-consciousness that many people have) makes me think it may take even longer for people to start using video on LinkedIn. I hope I’m wrong.
5. What’s the easiest way to record video?
   As of now, the easiest way is to use the LinkedIn app in your smartphone. You click on the little video icon near the status update bar and you’re off and running. I tried it on my laptop but unfortunately it didn’t use the camera on my laptop like I hoped it would. Instead it opened a window for me to upload a video from somewhere on my computer. Hopefully LinkedIn will improve this so you can record directly from your laptop. (P.S. – As of the writing of this post, the video feature isn’t showing up on the Blue Gurus Company Page. I’m guessing that option will be coming soon.)
6. How long should your videos be?
   I’m sure there are video experts out there who will tell you the best length for videos. My instincts say videos should, at least at first, be 2-3 minutes long. But, just as I tell people with blogging, I want you to get your point across in an engaging and authentic way. So take as much or as little time as you need in order to do that. But always be mindful that people are busy, so if they’re going to invest the time to watch your content, make sure it’s worth it.

Was this helpful? Will you try LinkedIn video? Leave a comment below or share your thoughts with me at mic@bluegurus.com. As always, thanks for reading! (and watching)